Bracelet clasp

ABSTRACT

A clasp for bracelet comprising a body whereof one of the sides is fixed to or integral with one of the ends of the bracelet and whereof the opposite side comprises a retaining element cooperating with a coupling member comprised by the other end of the bracelet. A cover is articulated on the clasp body so that it can move relative to the clasp body transversely with respect thereto and to the axis of the bracelet and pivot about a hinge pin parallel to the axis of the bracelet.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is the 35 USC 371 national stage of InternationalApplication PCT/IB00/00586 filed on May 8, 2000, which designated theUnited States of America.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has for its object a clasp called a “secret clasp”for a bracelet, more particularly for a rigid bracelet, whether thebracelet be for jewelry or a watch bracelet for example.

As its name indicates, the clasp which is the object of the inventionmust be the least visible possible, integrated as it is as an element ofthe bracelet, whilst ensuring a certain closure of the bracelet thatcannot open accidentally.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is known from FR 935435 a flexible or articulated bracelet claspcomprising a base plate to which one of the ends of the bracelet ispermanently fixed whilst the other end of the bracelet can be fixedremovably with the aid of hooks. A cover articulated on this base platecovers in the service position the hooks and prevents opening thebracelet.

Such a clasp has the drawback of not having sufficient safety, lockingof the cover on the base being haphazard and above all not constitutinga secret clasp because it is immediately recognizable as being a claspat first glance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has for its object the provision of a secretclasp, hence almost invisible, for a rigid bracelet preventing anyaccidental or involuntary opening.

The secret clasp for a rigid bracelet according to the present inventionis distinguished by the characteristics set forth in claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawing shows schematically and by way of example anembodiment of the secret clasp according to the invention, applied to awatch bracelet.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the watch bracelet provided with the claspaccording to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross section on the line B—B of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross section on the line C—C of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross section on the line E—E of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross section on the line D—D of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows the watch bracelet on the user's wrist.

FIGS. 7 to 10 show the different operative positions of the clasp duringits opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, there will now be described by way ofexample a rigid watch bracelet provided with the secret clasp accordingto the invention.

The rigid bracelet 1 comprises two ends, one end, 1 a, is fixed rigidlyand permanently to the secret clasp and the other end 1 b is adapted tobe removably fixed to the other side of the secret clasp.

The secret clasp comprises body 2 and a cover 3 articulated on this body2. The body 2 of the secret clasp is arranged in this embodiment toreceive a watch casing whose dial is visible through an opening of thecover 3 of the secret clasp.

The end 1 a of the rigid bracelet, which is sufficiently resilient topermit its enlargement during opening for the passage of the hand of theuser, is fixed on one side of the body 2 of the clasp. This securementis realized in the illustrated example with two positioning pins 4, 5and two screws 6.

The other end 1 b of the rigid bracelet comprises a coupling member 7which can, as will be seen later, be locked temporarily on the otherside of the secret clasp.

The side of the body 2 of the secret clasp opposite that rigidlyconnected to the bracelet 1 comprises a locking ridge 8 coacting in theclosed position of the bracelet with the lower surface of the couplingmember 7. The upper portion of the end 1 b of the bracelet comprises alocking groove 9, located behind the coupling member 7, and adapted toreceive a locking rib 10 which is carried by the cover 3 of the secretclasp.

Thus, when bracelet 1 is closed, its end 1 b is maintained lockedbetween the body 2 and the cover 3 of the clasp. To open the bracelet,it is necessary to open, that is to say to pivot, the cover 3 of theclasp on its body 2.

The cover 3 of the secret clasp is pivoted on the body 2 of this claspwith two cylindrical-headed screws 11, screwed into two opposite sidesof the cover 3 and whose heads are disposed in slots 12 or oval holes ofthe body 2 of the clasp.

The cylindrical heads of these screws 11 are subjected to a resilientaction tending to press them against the adjacent end of the slot 12 ofthe lateral edge of the body 2 of the clasp. To this end, the bodycomprises passages 13 in which slide pushers 14 subject to the action ofa spring 15 itself positioned by a screw 16 screwed into the body 2.

These resilient devices 13-16 have two functions, the first to maintainthe pivot screws 11 against the corresponding end of the slot 12 and thesecond to give to the screws 11 a certain friction.

The edge of the cover 3 opposite the screws 11 forming its articulation,is provided with a retaining nose 17 coacting with the edge 18 of thebody 2.

Thus, in the illustrated closed position of the clasp, the cover ismaintained in its locking position of the bracelet by this retainingnose, and the action of the resilient devices 14-16.

In this closed position of the cover, the coupling member 7 of the end 1b of the bracelet 1 is locked between the body 18 and the cover 3, 10 ofthe clasp.

To open the bracelet, it is-necessary deliberately to carry out twomovements of the cover 3 of the clasp relative to the body 2 of thelatter. It is necessary in the first instance to press the cover 3transversely from its position shown in FIG. 7 to the position shown inFIG. 8 to free the nose 11 from the edge 2, then to pivot the cover 3against the friction exerted by the resilient means 14-16 on the screws11. Only when the cover 3 is totally open (FIG. 10), can the userwithdraw the end 1 b of the bracelet 1 from the clasp 2, 3, therebyopening the bracelet, which because of its flexibility permits the userto withdraw his hand from the bracelet.

In the illustrated case, the cover 3 of the clasp comprises a crystal 19permitting seeing the watch disposed in the clasp.

In other embodiments, the clasp need not comprise a watch and the cover3 of the clasp is solid or can comprise a decoration or serve to supportset stones.

The safety of the clasp is total, because two movements are required indifferent directions, a translation followed by a rotation of the cover3 relative to the body 2 of the clasp, to open the clasp. The screws 11of the resilient devices 14-16 permit adjusting the friction applied tothe pivot screws 11 of the cover. Thus the cover, even if movedtransversely to free the nose 17, cannot move angularly except at thewill of the user.

This secret clasp is thus safe and reliable. Moreover, it is integratedinto the bracelet and is practically invisible, whether the bracelet bea jewelry plate bracelet or a watch bracelet.

To increase the resistance to pivoting of the cover 3, the head of thescrews 11 can comprise a flat which coacts with the corresponding pusher14 in the closed position of the clasp.

What is claimed is:
 1. A bracelet clasp, comprising a body having twoends and two sides, one of the sides being fixed or secured to one ofthe ends of the bracelet, and the opposite side comprising a retainingformation coacting with a coupling member on the other end of thebracelet; a cover articulated on the body of the clasp so as to bemovable relative to the body of the clasp transversely relative to thebody and to an axis of the bracelet, and also to be able to pivot abouta hinge axis of articulation parallel to the bracelet axis; said bodybeing structured and arranged to receive a watch casing, and said covercomprising an opening exposing a dial of said watch.
 2. The claspaccording to claim 1, wherein the cover of the clasp is provided withpivot screws whose head coacts with slots in the body of the clasp, andthe pivot screws are subjected to action by of resilient devices mountedin the body of the clasp tending to move the pivot screws outwardly ofthe clasp.
 3. The clasp according to claim 2, wherein each resilientdevice comprises, located in a transverse hole in the body of the clasp,a pusher, a spring and a screw screwed into the hole in the body,permitting pressure adjustment of the pusher on the pivot screws.
 4. Theclasp according to claim 3, wherein an edge of the cover opposite thepivot screws comprises a nose coacting with an edge of the clasp body tomaintain the cover in closed position on the body.
 5. The claspaccording to claim 4, wherein the cover comprises a locking rib coactingin a closed position of the covers on the body of the clasp, with thecoupling member at the other end of the bracelet.
 6. The clasp accordingto claim 2, wherein an edge of the cover opposite the pivot screwscomprises a nose coacting with an edge of the clasp body to maintain thecover in closed position on the body.
 7. The clasp according to claim 6,wherein the cover comprises a locking rib coacting in a closed positionof the covers on the body of the clasp, with the coupling member at theother end of the bracelet.
 8. The clasp according to claim 6, wherein toopen the cover, the cover must first be moved transversely relative tothe body to free the retaining nose, and then pivoted about the hingeaxis formed by the pivot screws against friction surfaces created by theresilient devices on the pivot screws.